Tesla is recalling 362,758 of its vehicles – nearly every EV equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta, its driver assistance system – in accordance with a recall notice put out on Thursday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The NHTSA notice specifically claims that the Full Self-Driving software, a beta feature that costs Tesla owners an additional $15,000 on top of the price of the vehicle, “allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an illegal or unpredictable manner increases the danger of a crash.” The notice goes on to offer examples of unsafe behavior akin to the vehicle traveling straight in a turn-only lane, proceeding through a yellow light without due caution, and approaching a stop-sign without coming to an entire stop.
As well as, the Full Self-Driving system “may respond insufficiently to changes in posted speed limits” and doesn’t “adequately account for the driving force’s adjustment of the vehicle’s speed to exceed posted speed limits.”
The recall affects a slew of Tesla vehicles with Full Self-Driving Beta including 2016 through 2023 Model S and Model X cars, and 2017 through 2023 Model 3 cars. 2020 through 2023 Model Y vehicles with Full Self-Driving are also affected.
While Tesla issued the recall voluntarily out of “an abundance of caution,” CEO Elon Musk was not completely satisfied with how the news was being reported.
“The word ‘recall’ for an over-the-air software update is anachronistic and just flat flawed!” Musk posted in a reply on Twitter.
Nevertheless, it must be noted that the document filed by Tesla to issue the recall known as “Safety Recall Report” and the NHTSA issued the notice as a recall.
This move comes just days after a TV ad demanding the NHTSA take motion regarding safety concerns with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving air in major U.S. metropolitan areas through the Super Bowl. Nevertheless, we should always note that in accordance with documents, Tesla officially made the choice to issue the recall on Feb. 7.
Because of this of the recall, Tesla will likely be issuing a free over-the-air (OTA) software update to the affected Tesla vehicles. Owners will received notification letters, which will likely be mailed by April 15.
Tesla’s autopilot just isn’t a part of the recall, nevertheless, in accordance with previous reports, the NHTSA has been investigating the problem with that system as well. The U.S. Justice Department can be probing Tesla over safety concerns and claims from the corporate regarding its autopilot system and Full Self-Driving feature as well.